I urge you to read the entire letter below from journalist, author,labor organizer and film producer Michael Moore...but first...

In addition to what Michael Moore says in his letter about the Bushhistory of alcoholism and the covering up of the drunk drivingincident...and the fact that he LIED to a Texas news reporter about theincident...I wonder why the news mediafails to adequately report on the fact that Bush was once arrested forpossession of cocaine and had to do a year of community service in apoor neighborhood to atone for the deed. Records proving that he didthe community service are available, BUT the arrest record has strangelydisappeared (or been completely covered up)!

Can anyone tell me what happened to the cocaine story? Even if thejaded news media thinks such a matter is "old" news, it's anotherinstance where the corporate-dominated media has glossed-over, ignoredor just been outrageously inept in their duty to report on issues. Theythink it's their duty to make this critical campaign a personalitycontest! It appears to me that the war on drugs is alive and well andbeing pushed down our collective throats by republican and otherpoliticians and the media.

But for unexplained reasons, most in the media have been protecting thisspoiled rich kid, who's been saved and bailed out by family money andinfluence all his life. Yet the news media has failed to do muchinvestigative journalism on the cocaine story and so many otherincidents in Dubya's life that are telling. Remember that Bush had todepend on family influence to get into Yale since he didn't have thegrey matter to make the grade! And what about manipulating officials sohe could be appointed to the National Guard in order to escape beingdrafted for Viet Nam! Why are so many reporters and people forgettingthat? Especially when the media, the right wing and veterans groupsbeat Clinton over the head for months in '92--and for years after--abouthis never serving in the military! There have been so many otherrevealing details about the empty shell of a candidate that news peoplehave conveniently forgotten....the swearing over the open microphoneincident--about a "NY Times" reporter...which would have completelydone-in any other candidate! And yet this bumbling, playboy fool isgetting away with the outrageous masquerade and is so close to beingelected to the most critical, influential and responsible position onthe globe! If someone can explain it all to me, I'd be grateful.

Please pass this on to everyone you have email addresses for. Maybe theInternet can save us from this inexperienced, unqualified and dangerouscandidate for the most important job in the world--if the irresponsiblenews media will not.

With the revelation last night of the drunk drivingarrest and conviction in 1976 of George W. Bush,this marks the THIRD arrest -- that we know of --involving this man who would be President.

Let me ask you, the readers of this letter: Howmany times have YOU been arrested? Me, none.Most of you -- once? twice? This guy has beenarrested AT LEAST THREE TIMES! How manypeople do you know have been arrested threetimes? Go ahead, do a quick count on your fingers.The answer? NONE!

Yet, we are being asked on Tuesday to vote fora man who has been arrested THREE TIMES.For President of the United States! Are theykidding? The Republicans must take us all foridiots.

The first arrest of George W. Bush was fortheft at a hotel. The second arrest was fordisorderly conduct at a football game. Thethird arrest, we've now learned, is for a veryserious crime -- drunk driving. What's the nextcrime committed by George W. Bush that wewill learn of? When will we learn it? It is time foreveryone to demand the truth from GovernorBush. I'm telling you, we haven't heard the last ofhis criminal behavior.

But next Wednesday will be too late to find out.

The press should be ashamed of itself for itslaziness. I cannot believe it took a young woman,Erin Fehlau -- at a FOX affiliate, no less -- up inMaine to stumble onto this story and do thenecessary work to uncover it. Where have thebig networks' investigative reporters been?

I'll tell you where: ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL!

After seeing this local Maine reporter on "Nightline"last night explain how a policewoman told her sheoverheard a conversation between a lawyer and ajudge, and then the reporter started digging aroundand found out the facts, it was clear the story wasnot planted by the Gore campaign, as Bush and hispeople have been insinuating.

The real story here is how did this conviction getcovered up for so many years? I spoke to a lawyerlast night familiar with these kinds of cases. Shesaid that a D.U.I., in and of itself, is not somethingworth covering up. Had Bush revealed this himself,he would have found the public forgiving of hisinfraction.

No, my lawyer friend continued, the only reasonto cover it up would be that there was somethingELSE connected to the arrest that night -- e.g.,drugs or resisting arrest. This other potential chargecould have been dropped and expunged. Thereporter was shown only the court docket whichlisted Bush's name, address, and the charge towhich he pleaded guilty. What we need to seeis the actual POLICE REPORT from that night.Assuming it hasn't been doctored, that will tell usthe truth.

The Bush people have already lied about thenature of the D.U.I. arrest (they said the coppulled Bush over because he was "driving tooslowly"; the arresting officer last night said itwas because Bush had "swerved off on theshoulder of the road"). Bush himself lied lastnight when asked about the night he spent injail. "I didn't spend time in jail," he insisted. Theofficer told the local reporter that Bush, in fact,was handcuffed, taken to the station, and heldin custody for at least an hour and a half.

This is not just some simple traffic ticket. Idon't want to hear one word comparing thisdrunk driving conviction to Clinton'stransgressions. Lying about consensual sex youhad with another adult is NOT the same asgetting behind the wheel of a car when you aredrunk and endangering the lives of others(including the life of your own sister, Mr. Bush,who was in the car with you that night).

It is NOT the same as Gore volunteering hesmoked pot in his youth. That act endangered noone's life and he did not try to cover it up.

And don't tell us that the drunk driving and the"drinking problem" was just a "youthful indiscretion."You were NOT a "youth" when you were in yourTHIRTIES on the night you were arrested whilecareening off the road. The fact is, according to yourown admission (if not in these words), you were adrunk and a bum 'til the age of 40, living off yourrich daddy who spent his time bailing you out oftrouble.

For crying out loud -- if any Republican is readingthis, I implore you: this man does not deserve tobe placed in the highest and most respected officein the land! Bush voters, come to your senses! Ifyou can't bring yourself to vote for Nader or Gore,then show your love for your country and just stayhome next Tuesday.

P.S. Last night, just as the news was breaking aboutGeorge W. Bush's arrest and conviction for drivingwhile drunk, I sent out an open letter to Governor Bush(click on: www.michaelmoore.com/2000_11_02.html),asking him to answer three questions which I believeaffect our national security:

1. Are you, Mr. Bush, unable to read and write on anadult level?

2. Are you an alcoholic and, if so, how will this affectyour performance as Commander-in-Chief?

3. You say that you have not committed any feloniessince 1975. What felonies did you commit PRIOR tothat date?

I implore our nation's media to demand answers tothese questions before Tuesday's election. The peoplehave a right to know.

P.P.S. "The Awful Truth" is pre-empted tonight. Ourelection special marathon is on Bravo, this Sundayafternoon, beginning at 4pm ET

(This is from Michael Moore: movie producer & author who made thefilms "Roger & Me," "Canadian Bacon," and "The Big One." He has done asummer weekly TV show about 4 years ago titled: "TV Nation," and wrote a bookon the labor movement: "Downsize This.")